Drive belting and drive belts manufactured therefrom

Abstract

An improved drive belting comprises a woven tape constraining element embedded in a polyurethane body element. The warp threads of the woven tape constraining element have a higher modulus of elasticity than the polyurethane body element, are resistant to heat shrinkage and extend substantially through the length of the polyurethane body element to resist extension of the polyurethane body element. At least the warp threads of the woven tape are preferably composed of rayon, although the weft threads may be nylon. The polyurethane has good frictional properties and is extremely wear resistant making it particularly suitable for driving belts.

I claim: 
     
       1. Drive belting comprising at least one elongate polyurethane body element and at least one elongate constraining element of woven tape, the warp threads of said woven tape constraining element having a higher modulus of elasticity than the body element, being resistant to heat shrinkage, and extending throughout the length of the body element but totally enveloped in the body element to resist extension of the body element. 
     
     
       2. Drive belting as claimed in claim 1, in which the warp fibres are of rayon. 
     
     
       3. Drive belting as claimed in claim 1, in which the weft fibres of said woven tape constraining element are of nylon. 
     
     
       4. Drive belting as claimed in claim 1, in which the polyurethane is extruded around said constraining element. 
     
     
       5. Drive belting as claimed in claim 1, in which the body element comprises two parts, at least one of which is grooved to receive the constraining element in a face which mates with a corresponding face of the other body element part, the two body element parts being fused together around the constraining element to form an integral body element with the constraining element therein. 
     
     
       6. A drive belt comprising a length of drive belting as claimed in claim 1, the ends of said body element being joined together in abutting relation, and the ends of said constraining element also being joined together, so that an endless belt is provided with the constraining element resisting extension of the endless belt. 
     
     
       7. An endless drive belt comprising an elongate polyurethane body element and an elongate constraining element of woven tape, the warp threads of said woven tape being of rayon and extending longitudinally of the body element, the weft threads of said woven tape being of nylon and extending transversely of the body element, the polyurethane being extruded around the woven tape so as to totally envelope the tape and penetrating into the interstices between the warp and weft threads thus keying the body element and constraining element together, the two ends of the constraining element being cemented together in a lap joint within the body element, and the two ends of the body element being fused together in a butt joint extending around the lap joint of the constraining element.